An Ancient Inheritance

Outside the Teapot Valley, an oppressive aura surged, and the wind and clouds changed color.

The Wuji Sacred Sect and the Yellow Springs Netherworld, two behemoths that have dominated the cultivation world in the Northwest for many years, are now on the verge of war.

From within the Yellow Springs Netherworld camp, a Foundation Establishment True Person, his face obscured by dense ghostly energy, stepped forward. His voice, as cold as the depths of the Nine Nethers, carried suppressed rage and echoed through the valley:

"The Wuji Sacred Sect!"

You have launched a surprise attack on the "Yin Ruins" Remnant Realm, under the jurisdiction of my Yellow Springs Netherworld, without cause, imprisoning my disciples and sealing off my gates. What is your true intention?

Could it be that they really intend to provoke a major war between the two sects, turning this Northwest region upside down?!

This place is a secret realm of my Yellow Springs Netherworld. Retreat immediately, or else—"

Before he could finish speaking, the True Person from the Holy Sect, holding a whisk, chuckled softly. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly drowned out the other's sharp shout, carrying a hint of mockery.

"Oh? Your secret realm of the Yellow Springs Netherworld?"

This humble Daoist is curious: since this is your sect's secret realm, why not build it obediently within your Netherworld Ghost Palace, instead of venturing into this desolate wilderness, this unclaimed land?

Does that mean that anything your Yellow Springs Netherworld takes a liking to, no matter where it is, becomes your private property simply because it bears your name?

Such principles are beyond the comprehension of our Holy Sect.

"If this were discussed throughout the entire cultivation world, it would be a huge joke."

These words were spoken calmly, yet every word was piercing, directly striking at the Yellow Springs Netherworld!

They had only recently discovered this "Yin Ruins" Remnant Realm by chance, and had not yet had time to fully control and relocate it.

Its geographical location is indeed not at the core of its traditional sphere of influence.

The words of the Holy Sect True Person immediately caused the group of True Person from the Yellow Springs Netherworld to catch their breath, their faces turning ugly, yet they found it difficult to directly refute them.

After all, according to the unspoken rules of the cultivation world, a secret realm in unclaimed territory belongs to whoever discovers it first and has the ability to occupy it.

They discovered it, but before they could "fully occupy" it, the Holy Sect intervened.

If they continue to be so hardline, they will be proving the saying, "Once they set their sights on something, it becomes theirs."

At that point, the Yellow Springs Netherworld would be standing against the entire Northwest cultivation world.

The True Person of the Yellow Springs Netherworld were filled with immense resentment, to the point that they felt like vomiting blood!

Isn't this just the guilty party accusing the innocent first?!

It is clearly your Wuji Sacred Sect that lacks martial ethics and suddenly sends people to launch a sneak attack.

This is clearly retaliation for what happened in the [Peach Garden] secret realm last time.

But... But that time at [Peach Garden], it was clearly a trap set by your Holy Sect to lure us in and cause us heavy losses.

How dare you bastards come looking for revenge?!

Is there no justice left?!

However, these frustrating words can only be roared in one's heart and cannot be brought out into the open.

In the battle between the righteous and the demonic, it often comes down to who is more shameless and ruthless.

The reason lies only within the range of flying swords and Law Technique.

As a result, both sides stuck to their own versions of events, engaging in a heated debate, neither willing to give in.

The pressure from the Foundation Establishment True Person collided and compressed in the air, causing the primordial energy above Teapot Valley to become chaotic, with faint thunder rumbling.

The situation is becoming increasingly intense, and it seems that a disagreement could easily escalate into a full-blown war.

Such a momentous event could not possibly be kept secret from other forces in the Northwest cultivation world.

For a time, almost all sects, large and small, and cultivation Aristocratic Clan turned their attention to the direction of Teapot Valley.

Various probing Divine Sense and subtle, concealed beams of light flickered in and out of sight in the surrounding area.

Everyone enjoys watching a spectacle, especially when two behemoths you can't afford to mess with are fighting.

Many forces are secretly plotting to find opportunities to fish in troubled waters during this fierce battle.

However, just as the winds were rising and all forces were holding their breath and waiting for the right moment to act.

The group of true cultivators from the Inner Mansion the Wuji Sacred Sect, who were detached from the Teapot Valley, appeared unusually "calm."

Or to put it another way, I'm busy.

None of them went to join the Teapot Valley Hugu, which was clearly the main battlefield of a meat grinder.

Instead, they took advantage of the "golden opportunity" when their ten True Person had firmly drawn the attention of the Yellow Springs Netherworld's main force and high-level officials to Teapot Valley.

Like wild horses, they frantically attacked and looted the markets, resource points, and outposts of the Yellow Springs Netherworld scattered throughout the northwest.

The Holy Sect cultivators who descended the mountain this time were ruthless and swift in their actions. In addition, the Holy Sect specially dispatched many Holy Sect Qi Refining cultivators from its Outer Mansion to provide assistance.

In the clouds, war raged behind the Yellow Springs Netherworld.

Messages for help poured into Teapot Valley like snowflakes, infuriating the high-ranking Yellow Springs Netherworld who were stationed in the rear, but they were too busy to deal with the situation.

They did consider sending Foundation Establishment True Person back to suppress the rebellion.

However, the Holy Sect's previous stern protest, which was "all bark and no bite," now had an unexpected effect.

Your Yellow Springs Netherworld previously joined forces with several major sects to openly besiege a lone Qi Refining disciple of the Holy Sect, which was somewhat justifiable. In demonic cultivation, there isn't much fairness to speak of.

However, openly sending Foundation Establishment True Person to deal with Qi Refining disciple of the Holy Sect would truly break the rules.

Although the demonic path is cruel and believes in the survival of the fittest, certain bottom lines still exist.

If we allow Foundation Establishment cultivators to attack Qi Refining disciples at will...

That would completely destroy the order of the entire cultivation world in the Northwest.

Everyone is in danger, and lower-ranking disciples will have no room to survive.

If this continues, will the cultivation community in the Northwest still be able to survive?

Sooner or later, their homeland will be overthrown by those righteous bastards and the imperial court from the south.

The higher-ups of the Yellow Springs Netherworld understood this principle, as did the other sects that were observing.

Therefore, despite being harassed terribly in the rear, the Yellow Springs Netherworld could only grit its teeth and send out more Qi Refining disciples to surround and intercept them, but could not easily use Foundation Establishment True Person.

The two sides are locked in a standoff at Teapot Valley, with tensions running high at the front lines.

Meanwhile, on the rear battlefield, the true cultivators of the Holy Sect took advantage of the muddy waters to reap huge profits.

This storm, initiated by the Holy Sect, turned into a grand feast of revelry for its disciples.

"Old Zhang? The cat's here."

At the edge of a secluded mountain forest, a man with flowing long hair and a shrewd look on his face strolled over to Qi Yun, who was sitting cross-legged against a moss-covered rock wall.

He held a dark-colored leather scroll in his hand and shook it gently.

"There's been some progress on the matter you asked me to investigate."

Upon hearing the voice, Qi Yun slowly opened his eyes, which were disguised as somewhat cloudy, and glanced at the man in front of him.

This person's name is Ning Feng, and he is quite famous among the true cultivators in the Inner Mansion of the Holy Sect.

They are not known for their combat prowess, but rather for their extensive network of contacts and their ability to sell information and resources.

He's quite a shrewd and resourceful businessman.

This time, although he barely participated in the fighting after coming down the mountain, he made a fortune using his silver tongue and his connections through buying and selling. "Oh? So fast. No wonder you're a big businessman; your network is truly extensive."

Qi Yun chuckled softly in his slightly hoarse voice and naturally reached out to take the scroll from Ning Feng's hand.

Ning Feng deftly pulled his wrist back, avoiding Qi Yun's hand, his face displaying a smile typical of a businessman—seemingly enthusiastic but actually unyielding.

"I can give you the message, but don't forget what we agreed on."

Three thousand [Thousand Cranes Talisman], not one can be missing.

Friendship is friendship, business is business; I need to see your sincerity first, brother.

"I know, don't you trust my character, Zhang Mazi?" Qi Yun's pockmarks seemed to be squeezed together, revealing a smile that looked honest but was hard to tell was genuine.

"These are five hundred. I don't have enough materials for making talismans right now, but I'll make sure to get you the rest as soon as I get back to the sect."

As he spoke, he took out a thick stack of exquisitely drawn Thousand Cranes Talisman from his storage bracelet and handed them over.

Ning Feng took the talismans, scanned them briefly with his Divine Sense to confirm that the quantity and quality were correct, but a hint of hesitation still appeared on his face.

His gaze swept over Qi Yun's tattered Daoist robe and the Soul Refining Banner beside him, as if weighing something in his mind.

"Only five hundred—Senior Brother Zhang, this is... How about you give me some other items as collateral?"

That way, I can put my mind at ease, brother, right?

This was clearly because they were afraid Qi Yun default on the debt, and they wanted to get more collateral.

"Forget it, I'll ask someone else." Qi Yun wasn't going to put up with it at all. Hearing this, his face darkened, and his honest demeanor vanished instantly. He reached out to take back the five hundred Thousand Cranes Talisman.

The movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

"Okay, okay!" Seeing this, Ning Feng quickly stuffed the talisman into his pocket, a smile spreading across his face.

"Since this is my first time doing business with you, and you're also a fellow apprentice, I'll trust you this once."

Senior Brother Zhang, you can't cheat me! If you renege on your debt, I'll file a complaint against you with the sect's stewards.

He spoke threateningly, but he knew in his heart that the Thousand Cranes Talisman was extremely effective and very useful in reconnaissance and vigilance, so there was no worry about finding a market for it.

The value of the three thousand sheets far exceeded the cost of his investigation.

It's worth taking a risk for such a good deal.

He then handed the leather scroll in his hand to Qi Yun.

Qi Yun took the scroll, but found that Ning Feng was still standing there, showing no intention of leaving, just looking at him curiously.

"What? Is there something else? How about we take a stroll on my banner?" Qi Yun frowned and reached for the Soul Refining Banner leaning against him.

Black mist faintly flowed across the surface of the banner, carrying a chilling and captivating aura.

Ning Feng's expression changed slightly, and he quickly waved his hand:

"No need for that, no need! Senior Brother Zhang, you're busy, you're busy!"

He chuckled twice, as if afraid of being tainted by the unlucky spirit banner, and turned to leave quickly.

Her flowing long hair swayed in the mountain breeze and quickly disappeared among the trees.

Once Qi Yun was sure Ning Feng was far away, he turned his attention back to the leather scroll in his hand.

Some time ago, seeing the increasingly fierce friction Holy Sect and the Yellow Springs Netherworld, and the increasingly chaotic situation, he planned to get rid of the hot potato in his hands— the Seven Kills Sect's golden ring—as soon as possible.

Being constantly targeted by an assassin organization is not a sustainable solution.

Therefore, he even used the "Blood-Guided Profound Mysteries" technique to cast a divination to see if the matter would be auspicious or inauspicious.

Unexpectedly, the divination result was a very favorable omen.

This suggests that although the matter has had its twists and turns, it may ultimately benefit him, and greatly so.

This result surprised him greatly and strengthened his resolve to find out more about the matter as soon as possible.

So he sought out Ning Feng, who had extensive connections, and paid a price to ask him to inquire about the specifics of that ancient site where sword cultivators passed down their skills.

Anyway, he's currently using the alias "Zhang Mazi".

Their aura and methods have all changed, and they are not afraid of revealing their original identities and attracting unnecessary trouble.

Taking a deep breath, Qi Yun slowly unfurled the leather scroll in his hand, immersing his Divine Sense within it to begin reading the detailed information about that mysterious inheritance site that Ning Feng had collected.

As the contents came into view, a hint of surprise and joy gradually appeared on his face.